Booting to safe mode seems to get around the problems, for now.

UPDATE (June 21): In a statement obtained by VideoGamer, Sony says that a fix for this issue should be available next week. "We have identified the issue related to the PlayStation 3 software update (version 4.45) that impacted a small number of PS3 systems earlier this week," the statement reads. "A new PS3 system software update is planned to be released on June 27 that resolves the issue. Thank you for your patience and understanding and we apologise for the inconvenience."

"Hi guys, we're aware of reports that the recent PS3 update (4.45) has caused," PlayStation Europe tweetedout in a series of updates early this morning. "We have temporarily taken 4.45 offline and are investigating. We will announce when the system update is available for download as soon as possible and we apologise for the inconvenience."

Reports of system bricking problems began filtering in after the required update was released yesterday evening and soon filled up a 92-page thread on the official PlayStation US forums. "I updated my fatty to 4.45 now it just sits at the sparkley [sic] ribbon screen," one user wrote. "I have done multiple file restores and I am not about to reformat, or else I would probably kill myself. PLEASE tell me I am not the only one having this issue?"

Other users are reporting that booting to safe mode seems to fix some of the problems. Evidence gathered on a Reddit thread suggest the problems are centered mainly on users with large, after-market hard drives in their systems. Meanwhile, an IGN user reports that Sony support representatives are suggesting he send in his system for servicing to fix the problem at a cost of $100. We don't recommend taking that route until Sony has a little time to correct the issue through a new firmware release.

This isn't the first time a required firmware update has led to hardware problems for some PS3 owners. September 2009's version 3.00 update actually led to a class-action lawsuit from a number of users left with bricked consoles. That case was settled out of court in April of 2011 under undisclosed terms.

Promoted Comments

Meanwhile, an IGN user reports that Sony support representatives are suggesting he send in his system for servicing to fix the problem at a cost of $100.

W...T...F???

Until the problem is well known, that is probably the default answer between Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft for a fix.

You can still load the PS3 into safe mode and install updated firmware from a usb drive. Sucks but at least you will not have to send it in.

894 posts | registered Apr 6, 2009

Kyle Orland
Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area. Emailkyle.orland@arstechnica.com//Twitter@KyleOrl

85 Reader Comments

I just got tweeted to about this, although a little too late (updated last night). However, we watched both Netflix and Hulu after the update, so I'm not sure if I'm one of the lucky ones, or if a Ribbon Screen of Death awaits me when I turn it on later.

I had updated last night just seconds before it hit the twitterverse, although I had no issues (used Youtube/Netflix apps and played a session of Last of Us without a problem). Reading through user reports, it seems to stem from systems that had user-upgraded HDDs. Has Sony confirmed this aspect of the story?

My girlfriend's stock 320 gb slim model updated last night without issue. It appears that a large number of those affected have upgraded their system hard drives from the stock one. Interestingly, some people have claimed it has affected their stock systems as well which got me wondering whether Sony was not consistently using the same hard drive manufacturer or if some variation in their own pool of stock hard drives is contributing to these cases. (Or perhaps these people bought used systems that had been altered/repaired).

Ugh. This is why I always turn off system software auto-updating, but I'm not sure that was an option when I shelled out for PS+ a few months ago. Going to be really annoyed if my backwards-compatible launch PS3, which was still going strong as of last night, gets bricked by Sony's own incompetence.

More importantly, it's a reminder that it isn't a bad idea to wait a few days before updating in case something like this happens.

I've only had my PS3 for a couple weeks so I'm new at this... but I thought the updates were mandatory? I know when I got mine, there were quite a few things it simply didn't allow me to do, instead saying I needed to install the system update first. So the choice might be to install the update and hope there aren't any problems, or spend the next few days not being able to use the PS3 at all, while waiting for reports on the update?

So the choice might be to install the update and hope there aren't any problems, or spend the next few days not being able to use the PS3 at all, while waiting for reports on the update?

Anything you do online will require any available system updates. The store, online multiplayer, etc. I forget if it insists for offline activities, but even if it does, you can disconnect it from the net.

I've only had my PS3 for a couple weeks so I'm new at this... but I thought the updates were mandatory? I know when I got mine, there were quite a few things it simply didn't allow me to do, instead saying I needed to install the system update first. So the choice might be to install the update and hope there aren't any problems, or spend the next few days not being able to use the PS3 at all, while waiting for reports on the update?

Usually you only "need" updates for multiplayer - games will refuse to let you play multiplayer until you've updated. Also, you generally can't access the PSN store until you do the latest system update.

Single player, or apps like Netflix, will give you a "Hit O to cancel" option on the "An update is available" screen, so you can cancel out of the update and continue on to the game/app.

I'm sure glad I held off on buying an aftermarket HDD until this week, talk about a lucky break. I've got auto-updates turned on since for whatever reason I like to think that a major hardware company does thorough QA testing on major firmware releases, silly me. Oh well. They'll fix the update, I'll finally install a new HDD, all will be right with the universe once more.

Sony has temporarily taken down the version 4.45 PS3 system update that was supposed to provide "improved system stability" after a number of users reported the new firmware was bricking their systems.

Ironically, mine has had stability issues for the last month or so. Freezes after a short while of use. Last night I tried to clean up my HDD and it froze while deleting a game. I'm gonna order a replacement HDD I think

Ugh. This is why I always turn off system software auto-updating, but I'm not sure that was an option when I shelled out for PS+

PS3 systems don't auto-update themselves, only auto-download. At least I'm told if there was an update, and to manually do the installation. There might be a setting I changed, but a safe way to do it exists.

Ugh. This is why I always turn off system software auto-updating, but I'm not sure that was an option when I shelled out for PS+

PS3 systems don't auto-update themselves, only auto-download. At least I'm told if there was an update, and to manually do the installation. There might be a setting I changed, but a safe way to do it exists.

Great - thanks! This may be the first system update released since I PS+ified, so I wasn't clear on the standard procedures.

Isn't the hardware pretty much the same on all PS3's? How are they not catching these bugs in testing?

I don't disagree with this statement - they certainly should have a few test systems based on each and every model they've made over the lifetime of the system. They should also go make attempts to configure games/software installs and save data to accurately reflect the use case for a typical user. But they have made some variations over the lifetime. (I'd be interested to know if they test on true hardware or rely on emulated environments at this point as well). The processor fabrication has moved to a smaller footprint, hardware has slowly been removed (removal of hardware to directly allow backwards compatibility; removal of USB slots; removal of card readers). The hard drive sizes have increased. It will be interesting to learn exactly what (whether hardware or software) is causing these issues. Considering how widespread this has become it appears that they failed to account for something fairly major in their test process.

That said, I had no problems with last night's firmware update, as I am still on my original 60 GB Spider-Man Waffle Iron. Sony-Please get your crap together! Horrible case of one step forward with PS4/E3 and three steps back with this latest bungling.

I guess this makes it better that the PS4 doesn't require a connection, if Sony's going to have a history of this type thing. Can you imagine the shitstorm that would have insued if this happed with MS in about six months?

More importantly, it's a reminder that it isn't a bad idea to wait a few days before updating in case something like this happens.

I've only had my PS3 for a couple weeks so I'm new at this... but I thought the updates were mandatory? I know when I got mine, there were quite a few things it simply didn't allow me to do, instead saying I needed to install the system update first. So the choice might be to install the update and hope there aren't any problems, or spend the next few days not being able to use the PS3 at all, while waiting for reports on the update?

I just picked up "The Last of Us" and I haven't even opened the game because I'm sure it will want me to update my PS3.